Yesterday the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) published the long-anticipated draft toxicological profile for "silica." A copy of the Federal Register notice in which the draft publication is referenced is attached. ATSDR is seeking public comments and additional information or reports on studies about the health effects of four substances, including silica. The draft toxicological profile makes clear that amorphous and crystalline silica both are addressed. Comments on the draft must be submitted by September 11, 2017.

The oblique muscles are your waistline muscles. They are among the top muscles we use the LEAST often. They are located between the end of the ribcage and the hipbone.

But, why does this matter?

When the obliques are shortened due to a hunched posture (sitting in a chair, your car, or operating equipment) it is difficult to turn from left to right properly and leads to compensating actions, which can inevitably lead to middle-back strain. Moreover, under-active obliques contribute to a false aesthetic of weight gain and poor posture.

Turn on your obliques with this simple standing exercise to lengthen and tighten your waistline, and promote better turning and twisting motions.

Earlier today, IMA-NA President Mark Ellis joined with our coalition colleagues from the National Mining Association and National Stripper Well Association to present to the Western Caucus on the importance of the percentage depletion deduction to our industries.

The Western Caucus is made up of members of Congress from Western states. The meeting was held before about 40-50 staff for those members of Congress including several in leadership and staff from the Trump administration. The message of the importance of the deduction to the natural resources sector was well-received. We are going to follow-up with many of the offices that were in attendance in the coming weeks to continue to educate them on the importance of retaining percentage depletion deduction in tax reform.

As you know, 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of European Minerals Day and the 3rd for North American Minerals Day. Staff for both IMA-Europe and IMA-NA developed the program as a way to spread awareness of the industrial minerals industry through member hosted events. European Minerals Day takes place in September, a month before the target week of October 8th for North American Minerals Day. We are beginning the process of planning events across Europe and North America. Join us on June 13th at 1:00pm EDT for a webinar to learn about the program and how you and your company can get involved.

United States Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced a review of the federal greater sage grouse conservation plans. The secretarial order signed by Zinke, will establish a review panel to look at both federal and state level efforts to protect the birds, and will likely lead to changes to how they are managed.

The review panel will include members of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and will focus on principal threats to the sage grouse’s habitat.

The review will last for 60 days and then a summary and recommendations will be given to Secretary Zinke for next steps.

IMA-NA will closely follow this process and will be prepared to file public comments if and when that opportunity arises.

To view the press release from the Department of Interior, click here.

As many of you know, the Congressional session is in a month-long recess in August. Members of Congress are largely back in their state/district over this period. They are looking for opportunities to meet with constituents, and doing plant/facility tours is a great way for them to be able to do so. By inviting the members of Congress out to your facility and conducting the tours, you are also helping to build a relationship with these offices. Building relationships and educating them on the importance of your facilities to their districts/states is a vital part of having a successful legislative strategy, as they are more likely to be willing to help if and when a legislative issue arises.

As we continue to push for the retention of the percentage depletion deduction in tax reform, holding these visits is a great way to help educate the members of Congress and their staffs on the issue. IMA can supply talking points and background materials for your use on this issue. We expect this will be an ideal time to discuss this particular issue as tax reform negotiations are expected to be ongoing throughout the month of August as things currently stand.

This is a great time to send invitations to Congressional offices for those August visits. Attached you’ll find instructions on how to best run one of these tours from start to finish.

IMA-NA staff is here to help you as well with any questions you may have and to help in any aspect in arranging these tours.

Today the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources convened to consider advancing four more nominees for roles in the Administration. The four nominees up for consideration by the Committee were: David Bernhardt to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Dan Brouillette to be Deputy Secretary of Energy, and Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson to be Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). As has been reported on extensively, the Administration has hundreds of positions to fill within its various departments and agencies. Unfortunately, until these positions are filled federal agencies remain largely incapable of acting on their mission areas due to being understaffed. FERC stands out, as IMA-NA has noted, as an agency in dire need of staffing; however most of the Departments are equally hamstrung without appointed Deputy Secretaries. Chairwoman Murkowski herself is, reportedly, displeased with the pace of confirmation votes, as these nominees increased the number cleared through the Committee during this session to 6.

Fortunately, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources moved the four nominees one step closer to confirmation by reporting all of them out of Committee favorably. Only David Bernhardt passed through the Committee without strong bipartisan votes. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Angus King (I-Maine) were the only non-Republicans to approve Bernhardt's nomination leading to a vote count of 14-9. Democrats on the Committee withheld support based on his recent career as a lobbyist, working on behalf of energy and mining firms, including oil and gas companies. Environmentalists raised concerns that Bernhardt could use a position as Deputy Secretary of the Interior to enrich his former clients.

IMA-NA is pleased to see the Senate moving the confirmation process forward and commend the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for approving four qualified nominees for positions of great importance to our federal government.

Please join us for June's First Friday's Ask IMA today, June 2nd at 1:00pm EST. IMA-NA staff will update members on ongoing legislative and regulatory issues, including percentage depletion, CERCLA 108(b), and the recently released full Presidential budget. In addition to updating members on lobbying efforts and issues of concern for the industry, staff will also be discussing the upcoming 3rd Annual North American Minerals Day and our partnership with IMA-Europe for the 10th Annual European Minerals Day.

The Industrial Minerals Association – North American (IMA-NA) filed comments on Canada’s Consultation Document on the proposed regulatory approach to prohibit asbestos and products containing asbestos published on April 20, 2017 (Consultation Document).The comments note with approval risk management decisions implemented by various governments.The comments go on to address the scope of the Consultation Document and its approach to the generic and non-mineralogical term “asbestos.”IMA-NA stressed the importance of applying sound science in a clear fashion to ensure that common rock fragments and soil are not mistakenly included in any regulation ultimately adopted.To avoid this unintended outcome, the comments highlighted the importance of using Chemical Abstract Service Registry Numbers to identify with specificity the “asbestos” minerals to be covered.The comments close by expressing support for the proposed general exemption in the regulations of naturally occurring traces of asbestos.

Responses to the Consultation Document will help inform regulations anticipated to be proposed by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada in December 2017.

Did you know that sugar is actually toxic? That is why, after you eat a meal, your body makes insulin to clear this stuff from your bloodstream. What people often don’t know is that, when you consume a meal with a lot of carbohydrate, no protein, or no combination of macronutrient (fat, carb, protein, vitamins, fiber) your insulin levels shoot up and back down again. The consequences of this, in addition to the potential for diabetes, are simply that your body craves more food and sugar - which causes weight gain!

The Glycemic Index (GI) refers to the speed with which food raises the blood sugar level. This factor, controlled by how much sugar you eat with each meal, is responsible for your energy level, your body weight, and your risk of diabetes.